ST. LOUIS -- No. 21 Wichita State and Illinois State sure looked the part of NCAA Tournament teams Saturday in double-figure victories during the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
But with the Selection Committee veering away from mid-majors with shiny records in favor of Power 5 Conference teams with double-figure losses because of RPI and schedule strength, there's a sense that the loser of Sunday's championship game at Scottrade Center will have to sweat out the next week to find out if a bid is offered.
That could add an air of desperation to the season's third matchup between the Shockers (29-4) and Redbirds (27-5), who tied for the MVC regular season title at 17-1, each beating the other at home. But MVC Player of the Year Paris Lee isn't thinking about the ramifications either way.
"We really don't listen to it," he said. "We hear about it, but we don't listen to it whether we're in or not. Our next goal is just to make sure we try our hardest to win the next game."
Illinois State certainly looked dialed in for most of its 63-50 victory over Southern Illinois. It led by as many as 31 points early in the second half and coasted to the finish line, even though coach Dan Muller had to insert a pair of starters in the last 2 1/2 minutes when the Salukis hacked the deficit down to 14.
But the Redbirds were never in any trouble after canning 13 3-pointers and limiting Southern Illinois to 32.2 percent field goal shooting.
"I knew we were ready," Muller said. "Clearly, when you make shots, you look better. I thought our rim protection was good in the first half. I thought our bench was great again, and I did like the look we've had. We've had that look other nights."
One of those nights wasn't Feb. 4 in Wichita, where the Shockers took Illinois State behind the woodshed for an 86-45 beating. They shot nearly 57 percent from the field, held the Redbirds to 33.3 percent accuracy from the floor and forced 19 turnovers.
Illinois State was almost as impressive in its 76-62 verdict over Wichita State on Jan. 14 in Normal, Ill., canning 54.2 percent from the field and limiting the Shockers to their second-fewest points in a game.
"I have no idea," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said when asked if he had a feel for Sunday's game. "It's two good teams going at it. I can only game-plan for my team. It should be two heavyweights going at it, and hopefully we made more plays than they do and shoot the ball well."
The Shockers absorbed a game-opening 12-2 run from Missouri State in Saturday's second semifinal and went on to a 78-63 victory behind 21 points from Shaquille Morris, who offered a consistent post threat lately by scoring in double figures during eight of the last 10 games.
For his part, Morris doesn't care who lines up across from him Sunday.
"It's just about winning," he said. "Three years playing and not making it to the championship game (the first two years). We haven't officially cut down nets, so that's what it's all about to me."
